Vijayawada

The ancient name of Vijayawada is Bezawada and the city flourished during the Vishnukunda dynasty in the 5th and 6th centuries, under the rule of King Madhava Varma. Earlier, the city was also a part of the large Kalinga Empire which had been conquered by the great King Asoka. Later on, the city passed onto Mughal hands in the 17th century, followed by the Dutch and British. The city hosted many meetings of the Congress under Mahatma Gandhi, thus playing a crucial role in India’s freedom struggle. Vijayawada also figures prominently in the religious epic Mahabharata and is believed to be the place where Arjuna, one of the 5 Pandava brothers, received the powerful weapon Pasupatastra from Lord Shiva. The famous temple of Vijeyaswara is built in commemoration of this event.

A major commercial hub, and thus aptly 'Andhra Pradesh's Business Capital' Vijayawada is a bustling metropolis in the state of Andhra Pradesh. Although many legends are attributed to the name of this city, the most accepted one is that of Goddess Durga having relaxed here after overpowering the demons, and hence Vijayawada, 'The Place of Victory'. One of the smartest cities in India, Vijayawada seems way ahead of the other Indian metropolis, with a significant usage of renewable energy, and a well-connected transport network, having the distinction of being one of the first cities in India to introduce Rapid Bus Transit Systems. The city has also been as a 'Global City of the Future' by eminent business organisation McKinsey Quarterly. Besides the above, Vijayawada also has a gold mine of historic remnants, from Undavalli Caves of the Gupta era to the handmade innovations of the Kondapalli village nearby, which make it a popular tourist hotspot.  

This is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Vijayawada. Constructed during the era of Gupta Emperor Kumaragupta, this is officially a monolithic structure, carved out of a huge sandstone. Dedicated to Lord Shiva & Lord Vishnu, this cave is 10.4 km. away from Vijayawada, and accessible via NH65. These caves, made out of huge rocks, are a testimony to the pristine rock cut architecture that Indian engineers in the ancient history possessed. The best known, and also the largest one houses a huge sculpture of Lord Vishnu in a reclining posture, sculpted out of one single rock. 

From the very popular Hyderabadi Biryani to authentic Andhra food to even multi-cuisine dishes, Vijayawada offers to its people and visitors hygienic and flattering food. Indulge in non-vegetarian delicacies with rich, and tangy Mughal flavors or order a vegetarian thali for all the best things of Andhra's cuisine in one platter.
Do not miss local items like Laskora Undalu or Raskora Undalu (coconut laddu), Sunnundallu - Laddu made from with roasted Urad Dal (Minapappu) and Jaggery (Bellam), Nellore Chicken Biriyani, Pachadi - typically made of vegetables, greens and roasted green or red chilies, Pappu Koora (Lentil based dish) boiled vegetables stir-fried with a small amount of half-cooked lentils (dal) and more.
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Day 1: Reach Vijayawada, preferably by noon and take some rest. In the evening, you can go to the main market for a stroll, especially in places like MG Road, Besant Road, where you can buy precious curios and souvenirs, apart from delectable cuisine, that you can take home for your families.
Day 2: The 2nd day should be the ideal time for starting your trip through Vijayawada. You should begin ideally with Undavalli caves, an astounding rock cut architecture dedicated to Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. Not very far from here, a mere 9-minute drive later is the Prakasam Barrage, which offers a breathtaking view of the Krishna river.  
Day 3: The final day can be earmarked for the sites unexplored. For starters, you can take blessings from the Kanaka Durga Temple or the Subramanya Swamy Temple. Then, you can proceed towards Gandhi Hill, where the Gandhi Stupa, which doubles up as a planetarium and a museum on Mahatma Gandhi, is a popular tourist destination. If you don't prefer to go to Gandhi Hill, you can also visit Rajiv Gandhi Park, which is a well-maintained amusement hotspot.